Rocky Mount is one of a few 9+ mile circuit hikes in the southern section of the Shenandoah National Park. With three different ascents, the last being at the end of the hike, this 2,840 foot loop can feel longer and higher than it actually is. The reward is the great panoramic view from the Rocky Mount summit.

The Rocky Mount Trail will level out, then follow the ridge on its west side, pass through a small gap, then climb on its north side before descending steeply to the intersection of the Gap Run Trail 2.2 miles from Skyline Drive. At this point the Rocky Mount Trail you had been following heads back uphill.

Turn right downhill onto the Gap Run Trail. The trail initially descends steeply before crossing Gap Run in 1.9 miles. In another 0.4 miles arrive at a concrete post trail marker. Turn left remaining on the Gap Run Trail. The overgrown road to the right is private property. In 0.4 miles from the concrete post there is a large camping area on the bank of Gap Run. Continue along the trail for another 0.2 miles and arrive at the Rocky Mount Trail junction.

Turn left onto the blue blazed Rocky Mount Trail, cross Gap Run, and in 0.5 miles the trail makes a switchback to the right. At this point the trail begins the steep climb the 1.6 miles up to the Rocky Mount summit.

In 1.3 miles from the summit arrive back at the junction of the Gap Run Trail you descended earlier. Continue straight on the Rocky Mount Gap Trail, as it now heads uphill, retracing your route the 2.2 miles back to Skyline Drive and hike start point.

Calculate roughly how many calories you could burn on the Rocky Mount hike:

As of 7 Oct, PATC volunteer trail crews have managed to clear the trail out to the Gap Run Trail intersection and part of the way over Rocky Mount and down the Gap Run Trail. The far side of Rocky Mount (approximately between Miles 5 and 6 on this hike) is still uncleared from the blow downs and regrowth following the 2015 fire. The burned out areas are recovering with new saplings coming up from the bases of 'killed' trees, as well as large sections of blackberry brambles. Additionally, 'standing dead' trees that were damaged or killed during the fire continue to create new blow downs across the trail which take time to remove.

Recommend treating this as an out-and-back hike until the far sections are cleared, either up to the overlook on Rocky Mount or down to the bottom of Gap Run.

By:
Amanda

Rating:

Date of Hike: Saturday, August 4, 2018

This trail was seriously overgrown and full of brush with thorns. We made it about a half mile in and had to turn back because we were cut up so badly and the trail condition was getting worse and worse. It took us about an hour to do the half mile in and back out. If you are going to do this trail make sure to wear pants and long sleeves.

By:
Paul M.

Rating:

Date of Hike: Sunday, August 13, 2017

Good for a challenge but seriously overgrown in several places. Note that the GPS coordinates shown for the trailhead are wrong. The trailhead is just south of mile marker 76 on Skyline Drive the coordinates are 10+ miles further south.

From HikingUpward: Thanks for the note. The parking cordinates have been corrected.

By:
Beth

Rating:

Date of Hike: Saturday, August 5, 2017

Not a hike I'm likely to do again. It was...well, an experience. My friend and I decided to backpack this one and it was slow going. Not a lot of places to set up camp, though the views were fantastic and the solitude was a plus. The trail was majorly overgrown which made the long uphill slog that much less enjoyable. Honestly, I'm glad I did it, but I will not be back and I wouldn't really recommend it.

By:

Rating:

Date of Hike: Saturday, April 1, 2017

Overall, a nice hike on a nice day. I hiked it as described and believe that is the better loop direction. That way the timing is right for a well deserved lunch stop at the top and you don't have that long a climb coming back out. Yes, the climb is a slog and yes, the hike back out has some climbing when you are at your most tired, but neither was ridiculously hard when I paced myself. I'm 63 and overweight, but hike often and did this hike in 5 1/2 hours, including an enjoyable 30 minute lunch break with a beautiful view. I got a little lucky because it rained the day before, which meant I got to see more water than most other times and there was no dust. The stream was a bonus, noting it was only rated a "1" in the heading, but seemed underrated with the flows I saw. 2016 fire damage was impressive and I plan to come back in the Fall to compare the recovery. Don't know if it was the result of the fire, but I found no ticks, while I've found them on almost every other SNP trail since late January. As others said, if you hike for the views though, the return on energy isn't as good for this one as other nearby trails.